Eiji Oue is Laureate Conductor of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra and Honorary Conductor of the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Hanover. He studied under Hideo Saito at Toho Gakuen. In 1978, he was invited by Maestro Seiji Ozawa to spend the summer studying at the Tanglewood Music Center. It was there that he met Leonard Bernstein, who became his long-time mentor and colleague, touring together for concerts around the world.
　
He has worked as Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Director of the Erie Philharmonic, Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the NDR Radiophilharmonie, Music Director of the Orquestra Simfónica de Barcelona, and Music Director of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra. He has taught as a tenured professor at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover since 2000. He was the first Japanese conductor to conduct the Bayreuth Festival in 2005 with Tristan und Isolde, garnering international attention. Every year since 2006, he has produced the Starlight Concert and Osaka Classic concert at the Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden, consistently drawing large audiences. In 2014, he conducted a world tour with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra to wide acclaim.
　
Oue also records actively, receiving Grammy nominations 2 years in a row – in 1996 for his recording of Stravinsky’s Firebird and in 1997 for Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. In 2004, he received the Grammy Award for his CD “Casa Guidi,” a collection of works by Dominick Argento. He also received the Cross of Merit First Class of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit in 2009.
　
This is his fourth appearance at PMF after appearances in 1990, 1991, and 1992. He will perform on the PMF Host City Orchestra Concert with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.